A Blessing - Poem by Swami Vivekananda

The strength that leads, in love obeys; Far-reaching dreams, and patient ways,

Eternal faith in Self, in all, The light Divine in great, in small;

All these and more than I could see, Today may 'Mother' grant to thee!

Angels Unawares - Poem by Swami Vivekananda

I

One bending low with load of life — That meant no joy, but suffering harsh and hard — And wending on his way through dark and dismal paths Without a flash of light from brain or heart To give a moment's cheer, till the line That marks out pain from pleasure, death from life, And good from what is evil was well-nigh wiped from sight, Saw, one blessed night, a faint but beautiful ray of light Descend to him. He knew not what or wherefrom, But called it God and worshipped. Hope, an utter stranger, came to him and spread Through all his parts, and life to him meant more Than he could ever dream and covered all he knew, Nay, peeped beyond his world. The Sages Winked, and smiled, and called it 'superstition'. But he did feel its power and peace And gently answered back — 'O Blessed Superstition! '

II

One drunk with wine of wealth and power And health to enjoy them both, whirled on His maddening course, till the earth, he thought, Was made for him, his pleasure-garden, and man, The crawling worm, was made to find him sport, Till the thousand lights of joy, with pleasure fed, That flickered day and night before his eyes, With constant change of colours, began to blur His sight, and cloy his senses; till selfishness, Like a horny growth, had spread all o'er his heart; And pleasure meant to him no more than pain, Bereft of feeling; and life in the sense, So joyful, precious once, a rotting corpse between his arms, Which he forsooth would shun, but more he tried, the more It clung to him; and wished, with frenzied brain, A thousand forms of death, but quailed before the charm, Then sorrow came — and Wealth and Power went — And made him kinship find with all the human race In groans and tears, and though his friends would laugh, His lips would speak in grateful accents — 'O Blessed Misery! '

III

One born with healthy frame — but not of will That can resist emotions deep and strong, Nor impulse throw, surcharged with potent strength — And just the sort that pass as good and kind, Beheld that he was safe, whilst others long And vain did struggle 'gainst the surging waves. Till, morbid grown, his mind could see, like flies That seek the putrid part, but what was bad. Then Fortune smiled on him, and his foot slipped. That ope'd his eyes for e'er, and made him find That stones and trees ne'er break the law, But stones and trees remain; that man alone Is blest with power to fight and conquer Fate, Transcending bounds and laws. From him his passive nature fell, and life appeared As broad and new, and broader, newer grew, Till light ahead began to break, and glimpse of That Where Peace Eternal dwells — yet one can only reach By wading through the sea of struggles — courage-giving, came. Then looking back on all that made him kin To stocks and stones, and on to what the world Had shunned him for, his fall, he blessed the fall, And with a joyful heart, declared it — 'Blessed Sin! '

Hold Yet A While (To My Own Soul) - Poem by Swami Vivekananda

Hold yet a while, Strong Heart, Not part a lifelong yoke

Though blighted looks the present, future gloom. And age it seems since you and I began our March up hill or down. Sailing smooth o'er Seas that are so rare-

Peace - Poem by Swami Vivekananda

Behold, it comes in might, The power that is not power, The light that is in darkness, The shade in dazzling light.

It is joy that never spoke, And grief unfelt, profound, Immortal life unlived, Eternal death unmourned.

It is not joy nor sorrow, But that which is between, It is not noght nor morrow, But that which joins them in.

It is sweet rest in music; And pause in sacred art; The silence between speaking; Between two fits of passion - It is the calm of heart.

It is beauty never seen, And love that stands alone, It is song that lives un-sung, And knowledge never known.

It is death between two lives, And lull between two storms, The void whence rose creation, And that where it returns.

To it the tear-dropp goes, To spread the smiling form It is the Goal of Life, And Peace - its only home!

Quest For God - Poem by Swami Vivekananda

O'ver hill and dale and mountain range, In temple, church, and mosque, In Vedas, Bible, Al Koran I had searched for Thee in vain.

Like a child in the wildest forest lost I have cried and cried alone, 'Where art Thou gone, my God, my love? The echo answered, 'gone.'

And days and nights and years then passed A fire was in the brain, I knew not when day changed in night The heart seemed rent in twain. I laid me down on Ganges's shore, Exposed to sun and rain; With burning tears I laid the dust And wailed with waters' roar.

I called on all the holy names Of every clime and creed. 'Show me the way, in mercy, ye Great ones who have reached the goal.'

Years then passed in bitter cry, Each moment seemed an age, Till one day midst my cries and groans Some one seemed calling me.

A gentle soft and soothing voice That said 'my son' 'my son', That seemed to thrill in unison With all the chords of my soul.

I stood on my feet and tried to find The place the voice came from; I searched and searched and turned to see Round me, before, behind, Again, again it seemed to speak The voice divine to me. In rapture all my soul was hushed, Entranced, enthralled in bliss.

A flash illumined all my soul; The heart of my heart opened wide. O joy, O bliss, what do I find! My love, my love you are here And you are here, my love, my all!

And I was searching thee - From all eternity you were there Enthroned in majesty! From that day forth, wherever I roam, I feel Him standing by O'ver hill and dale, high mount and vale, Far far away and high.

The moon's soft light, the stars so bright, The glorious orb of day, He shines in them; His beauty - might - Reflected lights are they. The majestic morn, the melting eve, The boundless billowing sea, In nature's beauty, songs of birds, I see through them - it is He.

When holy friendship shakes the hand, He stands between them too; He pours the nectar in mother's kiss And the baby's sweet 'mama'. Thou wert my God with prophets old, All creeds do come from Thee, The Vedas, Bible, and Koran bold Sing Thee in Harmony.

Requiescat In Pace - Poem by Swami Vivekananda

Speed forth, O Soul! upon thy star-strewn path; Speed, blissful one! where thought is ever free, Where time and space no longer mist the view, Eternal peace and blessings be with thee!

Thy service true, complete thy sacrifice, Thy home the heart of love transcendent find; Remembrance sweet, that kills all space and time, Like altar roses fill thy place behind!

Thy bonds are broke, thy quest in bliss is found, And one with That which comes as Death and Life; Thou helpful one! unselfish e'er on earth, Ahead! still help with love this world of strife!

Song Of The Sanyasin - Poem by Swami Vivekananda

Wake up the note! the song that had its birth Far off, where worldly taint could never reach, In mountain caves and glades of forest deep, Whose calm no sigh for lust or wealth or fame Could ever dare to break; where rolled the stream Of knowledge, truth, and bliss that follows both. Sing high that note, Sannyasin bold! Say— 'Om Tat Sat, Om! '

Strike off thy fetters! Bonds that bind thee down, Of shining gold, or darker, baser ore; Love, hate—good, bad—and all the dual throng, Know, slave is slave, caressed or whipped, not free; For fetters, though of gold, are not less strong to bind; Then off with them, Sannyasin bold! Say— 'Om Tat Sat, Om! '

Let darkness go; the will-o'-the-wisp that leads With blinking light to pile more gloom on gloom. This thirst for life, for ever quench; it drags From birth to death, and death to birth, the soul. He conquers all who conquers self. Know this And never yield, Sannyasin bold! Say— 'Om Tat Sat, Om! '

They know not truth who dream such vacant dreams As father, mother, children, wife, and friend. The sexless Self! whose father He? whose child? Whose friend, whose foe is He who is but One? The Self is all in all, none else exists; And thou art That, Sannyasin bold! Say— 'Om Tat Sat, Om! '

There is but One—The Free—The Knower—Self! Without a name, without a form or stain. In Him is Maya dreaming all this dream. The witness, He appears as nature, soul. Know thou art That, Sannyasin bold! Say— 'Om Tat Sat, Om! '

Where seekest thou? That freedom, friend, this world Nor that can give. In books and temples vain Thy search. Thine only is the hand that holds The rope that drags thee on. Then cease lament, Let go thy hold, Sannyasin bold! Say— 'Om Tat Sat, Om! '

Say, 'Peace to all: From me no danger be To aught that lives. In those that dwell on high. In those that lowly creep, I am the Self in all! All life both here and there, do I renounce, All heavens and earths and hells, all hopes and fears.' Thus cut thy bonds, Sannyasin bold! Say— 'Om Tat Sat, Om! '

Heed then no more how body lives or goes, Its task is done. Let Karma float it down; Let one put garlands on, another kick This frame; say naught. No praise or blame can be Where praiser praised, and blamer blamed are one. Thus be thou calm, Sannyasin bold! Say— 'Om Tat Sat, Om! '

Truth never comes where lust and fame and greed Of gain reside. No man who thinks of woman As his wife can ever perfect be; Nor he who owns the least of things, nor he Whom anger chains, can ever pass thro' Maya's gates. So, give these up, Sannyasin bold! Say— 'Om Tat Sat, Om! '

Have thou no home. What home can hold thee, friend? The sky thy roof, the grass thy bed; and food What chance may bring, well cooked or ill, judge not. No food or drink can taint that noble Self Which knows Itself. Like rolling river free Thou ever be, Sannyasin bold! Say— 'Om Tat Sat, Om! '

Few only know the truth. The rest will hate And laugh at thee, great one; but pay no heed. Go thou, the free, from place to place, and help Them out of darkness, Maya's veil. Without The fear of pain or search for pleasure, go Beyond them both, Sannyasin bold! Say— 'Om Tat Sat, Om! '